Vietnam War

Ho Chi Minh

(1890-1969) leader if the Communist Party in Indochina after WWII; led Vietnamese against the French, then North Vietnamese against the United States in the Vietnam War

Domino theory

the political theory that if one nation comes under Communist control then neighboring nations will also come under Communist control

Geneva Accords

a 1954 peace agreement that divided Vietnam into Communist-controlled North Vietnam and non-Communist South Vietnam along the 17th Parallel until unification elections could be held in 1956

Ngo Dinh Diem

(January 3, 1901 - November 2, 1963) the first president of South Vietnam (1955-1963). Anti-communist dictator who repressed all opposition; backed by US until assassinated

Vietcong

Guerilla soldiers of the Communist faction in South Vietnam, also known as the National Liberation Front. Were known for sneak attacks and blending in with the local popular

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

a resolution adopted by Congress in 1964, giving the President broad powers to wage war in Vietnam

Napalm

highly flammable chemical dropped from US planes in firebombing attacks during the Vietnam War and other conflicts

Agent Orange

a herbicide used in the Vietnam War to destroy forest areas. Caused severe health problems amongst civilians

search and destroy mission

an operation developed for United States troops in Vietnam; troops would move through a designated area destroying enemy troops and supplies as they found them

credibility gap

the gap between the people and the government that grew as the people became disillusioned with the Vietnam War

dove

someone who prefers negotiations to armed conflict in the conduct of foreign relations

hawk

person who advocates immediate firm action, including the use of force, to resolve international crises

tet offensive

a massive surprise attack by the Vietcong on South Vietnamese towns and cities in early 1968. Although an American victory, it showed that American strategy was not working; the US would not easily win the war

Vietnamization

Nixons strategy for ending US involvement in the Vietnam War, involving a gradual withdrawal of American troops and replacement of them with South Vietnamese forces

Pentagon Papers

secret government documents published in 1971; revealed that the US government had misled Americans about the Vietnam War

War Powers Act

Notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying troops; had to gain Congress’ approval to stay longer than 90 days; designed to curtail President’s power

Guerilla Warfare

a hit-and-run technique used in fighting a war; fighting by small bands of warriors using tactics such as sudden ambushes

Operation Rolling Thunder

major bombing campaign over North Vietnam, supposed to weaken enemy’s ability and will to fight

Ho Chi Minh Trail

a network of jungle paths winding from North Vietnam through Laos and Cambodia into South Vietnam, used as a military route by North Vietnam to supply the Vietcong during the Vietnam War

Containment

american policy of resisting further expansion of communism around the world

Walker Cronkite

famous news reporter who begins to doubt the war after the Tet Offensive

Reasons for Draft Protest

• 18 year olds were drafted and not allowed to vote

• the wealthy could get a deferment by staying in college

• minorities were drafted in disproportionate numbers

deferments

an excuse, issued by the draft board, that lets a person be excused from military service (i.e. attaining a college degree)

My Lai Massacre

1968, in which American troops had brutally massacred hundreds of innocent women and children of My Lai, strengthened the antiwar movement

Secret Bombing of Cambodia

bombing missions with the goal of destroying the strongholds of the Vietcong and North Vietnamese forces in Cambodia. This was initially kept secret from Congress and the American public

Kent State Shootings (1970)

The Ohio National Guard shot into a crowd of students protesting American involvement in Cambodia, killing four

Generation Gap

a vast difference in tastes and values between young people and their parents; this division was increased by the differing opinions of the Vietnam War

Gulf of Tonkin Incident

alleged attack of US ships by North Vietnamese torpedoes in the Tonkin Gulf on August 4, 1964. Prompted the escalation of the War in Vietnam

Paris Peace Accords (1973)

1973 peace agreements between the US, South Vietnam, North Vietnam, and the Vietcong that effectively ended the Vietnam War

• US has to remove all troops

• NV had to return all prisoners of war

• Vietnam would remain divided at the 17th Parallel

Fall of Saigon (1975)

Soon after the PPA removed the last of the American troops from South Vietnam, the Vietnam War escalated, and a full-scale offensive launched in March 1975 brought the fall of Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, a month later. Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam was reunited under the rule of the North Vietnamese Communist government

Vietnam refugees

nearly 2 millions Vietnamese people fled the nation when SV surrendered

Martin Luther King Jr

protested the war in Vietnam due to the amount of money being spent on a war the people did not support; money that could be better spent to end poverty in America

Battle of La Drang Valley

first major battle in Vietnam and established the US military’s strategy of using attack and transport helicopters

Battle of Khe Sanh

In January of 1968, 6,000 US Marines were surrounded and attacked by over 20,000 North Vietnamese troops. Given heavy air support by the US Air Force, the Marines were able to hold off and repel the attack

Battle of Hue

Largest Battle of the Tet Offensive in 1968 and resulted in many casualties on both the North Vietnamese and South Vietnamese/USA side

Cambodia Incursion

Invasion and bombing campaign in eastern Cambodia during the late-spring of 1970 by the armed forces of the US and South Vietnam against the supposed Vietcong and NVA supply routes and strongholds

William Westmoreland

American General who commanded American military operations in the Vietnam War at its peak from 1964 to 1968

American soldiers experiences

• hot, humid jungle conditions: thick forests w/ razor-sharp elephant grass, insects, etc

• difficult to find enemy (Vietcong blended in)

• patrols and search and destroy missions

Vietnam Veterans

• Many people either ignored or were hostile towards their homecoming

• received reduced benefits due to cut to the VA

• Many suffered from homelessness, addiction, and mental health issues with few services for help

Reasons for Entering the War

• following a policy of containment/fear of the domino effect in SE Asia

• Combat Soviet and Chinese influence in SE Asia

• gulf of Tonkin incident w/ USS Maddox

Reasons of Protesting War

• many early protestors were of draft age (college students)

• as war progressed, casualties grew, but little progress was made in victory

• many veterans were against the war (VVAW)

1968 Democratic National Convention

Significant event in presidental election of 1968; demonstrated the confusion and lack of unity among Democrats and their support for the war; outside and inside, protests and police brutality occured. Badly impacted public image of Democrats and led to the victory of Republican Richard Nixon

Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW)

Group of antiwar Vietnam veterans who recorded war experiences of Vietnam veterans and openly protesting and testified in front of Congress with the goal of ending US involvement in the war